Things that make you go "Hmmmm…"

[kladner]

Idiocy continues apace in Congress Critter Land:

In his position as Chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Texas Congressman Lamar Smith has spent much of the last few years pressuring the National Science Foundation to ensure that it only funds science he thinks is worthwhile and “in the national interest.” His views on what's in the national interest may not include the earth sciences, as Smith rejects the conclusions of climate science—as we saw first hand when we saw him speak at the Heartland Institute’s climate “skeptic” conference earlier this year.

So when National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists published an update to the agency’s global surface temperature dataset that slightly increased the short-term warming trend since 1998, Rep. Smith was suspicious. The armada of contrarian blog posts that quickly alleged fraud may have stoked these suspicions. But since, again, he's the chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Rep. Smith was able to take action. He's sent a series of requests to NOAA, which Ars obtained from Committee staff.

[Xyzzy]

https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~bls96/museum/cardiac.html

[kladner]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~bls96/museum/cardiac.html

This jogs a memory. In the middle 60's my dad got us a Christmas present called the Digicomp. I admit I found it somewhat confusing. It was the first version, which was programmable with plastic straw segments, which you put on different pegs.

[ixfd64]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comme...have_in_common

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by ixfd64

https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comme...have_in_common

I knew someone that was, once, local max in multiple bases simultaneously.

[chappy]

https://twitter.com/stephenjudkins/s...97149047771137

[kladner]

Suspect "said it was a new toy" and he was aiming at the water, not the vessel.

Does anyone have an idea of the power level such a laser would have?

"Laser strikes" have been a known hazard for airline and helicopter pilots for years now, and errant users of high-powered laser pointers are increasingly being prosecuted.


The newest pilots to be hit by such a laser were not in the air but at sea. Washington State Ferry officials told Seattle's KOMO TV station that two men in their twenties pointed a blue laser at the Tokitae ferry as it approached the Clinton Ferry Terminal on Whidbey Island, about 30 miles north of Seattle.


The two captains were in separate wheelhouses, at opposite ends of the 350-foot ship, when they were hit. The chief mate, who was piloting the vessel at the time, was struck first.

[petrw1]

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...heir-last-name

[kladner]

Originally Posted by petrw1

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...heir-last-name

Is awesomeness detectable as intense luminance, radiance, etc.? Do co-workers have to put welding shields in the hallway?

[kladner]

It keeps on happening: Pyrotechnics Set Nightclub on Fire

This time it is in Bucharest.

[LaurV]

Originally Posted by kladner

This time it is in Bucharest.

Grrr...
Playing the devil advocate, "they are too many, some need to die"...
Or "the mother of all the idiots is always pregnant"...
We say also "a wonderful country; pity, is populated".

Feeling sorry for the people there, and wondering what consequences this will have, for the owners, and for the "industry". One door only? No fire safety? What was going on there? Most probably, nothing will happen to the owners, probably some high officials already, or some mafia guys (it may be intentional!) and some negative consequences for the industry (like some absurd requirements which may push some competition out of business, it happened in the past).